Photo: stevebott

The Obama did something for trans equality, though in a low key way. They now say that discrimination based on gender identity is forbidden on a federal jobs site. A more formal announcement would have made more people aware of this change, including job applicants and people involved in hiring, but this is a good step. Here's the text of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's press release on the subject.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force welcomes the Obama administration's inclusion of language on the federal jobs Web site that explicitly bans employment discrimination based on gender identity. While calling the action a step in the right direction, the Task Force urges Congress to pass the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

"We are pleased by the administration's decision to modernize the federal jobs Web site by explicitly banning employment discrimination based on gender identity. This is an action the Task Force and other groups have been advocating for with the Office of Personnel Management, and it is certainly a welcome step toward eliminating workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in federal employment.

"However, it is unacceptable that in 60 percent of the country, it is still legal to fire someone for reasons that are unrelated to their performance, skills and talents. So, while we are pleased by the change to the federal jobs site, the Task Force will continue pressing Congress to pass a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) early this year. We need to pass ENDA and afford essential employment protections under federal law so that employers across the nation will understand that discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation will not be tolerated whether it is in the private or public sector."

This push is quite important, given that the Labor Law Center is reporting that the both House and Senate have tabled ENDA for now.

ENDA should have passed last year. Really, legislation banning employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity should have passed during 1993 or 1994 when the Democrats had control of both houses of Congress and the White House.

Sometimes, it really seems like the congressional Democrats are deliberately trying to get queer voters to go Green or stay home in 2010.

Some phone banking is going on in California to contact constituents of key politicians to get those voters to call offices for ENDA. In early December, PFLAG and a number of LGBT organizations expressed their outrage at delays in passing ENDA.

People need to keep pushing, and Democrats better start listening if they know what's good for them in 2010.